PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A new California law requires street motorcycles registered in the state and built on or after Jan. 1, 2013, to have an exhaust system label certifying the motorcycles meet federal sound limits, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

On Sept. 28, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 435, sponsored by Sen. Fran Pavey (D-Agoura Hills). While motorcycle manufacturers have been complying with the federal law since it was effective in 1983, the new law now makes it a state crime to operate any motorcycle registered in the state that was built on or after Jan. 1, 2013, that doesn't have a federal Environmental Protection Agency exhaust system sound emissions label.

In addition, the law requires aftermarket exhaust systems made on or after Jan. 1, 2013, to display the EPA sound emissions label, and therefore applies to individuals who seek to replace the exhaust system on affected streetbikes.

Thousands of motorcyclists utilized the AMA website at AmericanMotorcyclist.com first to oppose the bill, and then to urge Schwarzenegger to reject it.

AMA Western States Representative Nick Haris expressed major concerns about the new law.

"Many EPA labels are very difficult to locate on motorcycles," Haris said. "This law could lead to a flurry of tickets for motorcyclists who have legal exhaust systems with EPA labels on their machines that can't be easily seen. It's unreasonable to expect a law enforcement officer to easily locate an EPA label, and it's simply unfair to expect a motorcycle owner to partially dismantle an exhaust system along the roadside to prove the label exists."

Violators face fines of up to $100 for a first offense and up to $250 for subsequent offenses. Judges have the discretion to dismiss the fine for first-time offenders if the violation is corrected.

Also, a violation is considered a secondary offense, meaning a police officer can't stop a motorcyclist solely because the officer believes the motorcyclist is breaking the sound emissions label law.

"Requiring that a motorcycle display a readily visible EPA label isn't the appropriate way to address concerns about excessive motorcycle sound, which the AMA has pointed out repeatedly," Haris said. "The only objective way to determine whether a motorcycle complies with sound laws is for properly trained personnel to conduct sound level tests using calibrated meters and an agreed-upon testing procedure."

In 1972, Congress passed the federal Noise Control Act, which required the EPA to set sound standards for a number of products. It took several years, but the EPA eventually wrote rules affecting all new motorcycles sold in the U.S. beginning in 1983.

Those regulations, which still stand today, required that all street-legal motorcycles be limited to 83 decibels at that time, with a stricter, 80-decibel limit imposed beginning in 1986.

The AMA has long maintained a position of strong opposition to excessive motorcycle sound. In September 2009, the AMA developed model legislation for use by cities and states seeking a simple, consistent and economical way to deal with sound complaints related to on-highway motorcycles within the larger context of excessive sound from all sources.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Even the New York Times feels that this is a story! See this NYT article by Phil Patton. As info leaks out about the scooters that Mini and Smart are proposing, one thing makes me pause:
"Smart claims a top speed of 28 miles per hour and a 62-mile range for its Escooter."

If Vectrix could make a scooter that could go a speed that could keep up with realistic traffic speeds, why can't other manufacturers? Cool only gets you so far (and these concepts are freaking cool) but 28mph puts it in the retirement community user's realm.

Jon & I are joining some friends on a ranch in Hollister. I'm looking forward to it because we get to ride Hwy 25 which we haven't ridden since our epic maxi-scooter test in 2004. It's a fun, curvy ride through farmland and dry wilderness. I'll post pics as we go.

Some of you may already know that I own a Mini Clubman car (39MPG, baby!) so perhaps my next Mini purchase will be this Mini electric scooter. Check out the video for the concept, below

While these electric scooters look pretty awesome, we should be reminded that these are just concepts that will be presented at the Paris Auto Show next month. But wouldn't it be awesome to have a scooter with ipod integration so that you can use your Google Maps?My Mini car has some really cool features, so hopefully this scooter will make it into production without the distinctive features stripped.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

I haven't seen this new issue of SELF magazine, but saw it posted on HollywoodLife.com. Self styled a la dolce vita look and posted a video. Check out the scooter in the video and the finished product below. Talk about a photoshop job!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Perhaps the last place that you would expect to see a flock of scooters would be Des Moines, Iowa, but this week's issue of Juice (supplement to the Des Moines Register) covers The Corporation, a local scooter club that is hosting hosted its first scooter rally this last weekend, the Hostile Takeover.

NOTE: I had set this up to post last week, but somehow it never moved from my draft folder. Doh! So I had to revise the post. What is cool is that my friend Norbert just came back from Iowa and brought me a copy of this exact issue. Cool!

Bill Luinetti's support truck was stolen in Grand Forks, BC, Canada. Bummer. So much for those friendly Canadians! [jk] not only was it his vehicle, and a support truck for him and Starr Markham, it was how his son followed the trip. A sh*tty situation all around. Best of luck recovering the truck!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

If you guessed B, you are right, If you guessed A, you mistakenly chose a Hasbro Cootie.

Doodle Bugs were American-made scooters that, while only manufactured for a few years in the 1940s, must have been quite popular since so many exist today. Like Cushmans and Salsburys, many of the bikes have low horse-power Briggs & Stratton engines. Powerful enough to propel a youngster around the neighborhood, but not so much as to get him in trouble (or so was the thinking). These early, simple scooters provided a great sense of freedom for their young owners. Many of those original Doodle Bug riders have returned to the fold and bought new (to them) scooters and hold rallies to share their enthusiasm and knowledge.

The Daily Freeman-Journal just ran an article on the upcoming Doodle Bug Reunion which happens this weekend in Webster City, IA.

Thursday, September 09, 2010

In June, Grant Parsons from the American Motorcyclist Association asked me to write a piece for the back-of-the-book guest column in the association's magazine, American Motorcyclist. The subject was up to me, which left me with a lot of possibility. Should I write about the practicality of riding a scooter? Should I extol the virtues of a small parking footprint and gas economy? Should I talk about Roman Holiday and Quadrophenia? I was a bit stumped on how to say something fresh and new that didn't sound as if I assumed that the AMA readers didn't know anything about scooters. I also didn't want to sound apologetic. Many scooterists take that sort of tone, as if they are lesser riders because they ride scooters. I struggled with the concept of the article and was unable to decide before I took off for my week away at Comic-Con.

When I returned, I had to close the next issue of Scoot! and every spare moment of writing was dedicated to the issue. However, while I was editing the events calendar, I noticed something unusual. There were several Mods vs Rockers events happening this summer/fall. While Mods/Rockers events are nothing new, it was the amount of such events, spread out over the country, which impressed me. It meant that in pockets of the US, there were groups of scooterists and motorcyclists getting together to have fun, with no attitude...actually thumbing their noses at the notion that the two groups don't get along. Cool! I found the inspiration for my column.

Once I figured on a theme, it went quickly. As much as I think Quadrophenia is a tired source to cite, it actually was pertinent to the point, so I evoked it once (I promise to leave it alone for a while!) to illustrate the old view of scooters versus motorcycles. The point that I wanted to make was that scooterists and motorcyclists aren't that different. We want the same things, we find pleasure in two-wheeled transport, so we should offer each other respect.

The issue just hit mailboxes this week, and I have received some great feedback. If you are an AMA member, I hope you check it out. If you aren't an AMA member, why not join?

This article on Cannonball Run participant David Bednarski discusses this year's trip which he will do to raise awareness for Cold Nose Lodge, a canine daycare/boarding/rescue center.
This is David's second Cannonball. He finished the 2008 Run.

You can see a Flikr slideshow of his ride preparation here.
Keep up on the Cannonball at David's blog.

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

The 2010 Scooter Cannonball begins on September 9th! Pistol Pete, who freelances for Scoot!, is participating. Check out his blog and look for some great pics in a future issue. The route goes from Vancouver B.C. to Portland, Maine, and should be a great route along the upper part of the U.S.

Our pal, Bagel (a funny story on how he got that name. Ask me sometime!) is posting updates on his blog: Bagel's Scooter Blog. So, follow on the fun!

Monday, September 06, 2010

Still haven't won a Vespa LX 50? I'm surprised since it seems to be the go-to model for contests, lately. This newest contest is with Crabtree & Evelyn, which wants to celebrate its new Iris fragrance with a purple scooter giveaway. Enter now. Contest ends at 11:59:59 PM EST on September 30, 2010.

Get it at Amazon

About Me

I like old stuff. Find me either on a scooter or at estate sales on the weekends. Glad to not have grown up yet. I like my backyard on a sunny day. Favorite things: the smell of 2-stroke smoke (really!), wind, lemonade, road trips, word games, clean sheets.